The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1242051
48 THE WOLVERINE MAY 2020 COMMITMENT PROFILE M ichigan has scored another re- cruiting win in New England. The Wolverines dipped back into the region and notched a commit- ment from three-star 2021 Mansfield (Mass.) High defensive end TJ Guy, who announced his pledge April 17. While Guy has never visited Mich- igan, he felt extremely comfortable with the coaching staff. Relationships mattered the most in this recruitment, and the Wolverines sealed the deal. "I have a great relationship with Coach Don Brown and Coach Shaun Nua," Guy said. "I FaceTime those guys a lot. They opened me up to the whole school because I can't visit. I've talked to Coach [Jim] Harbaugh a lot of times. "I've talked to the head of educa- tion. I've seen all I've needed to see from Michigan." The aforementioned Brown has strong roots in New England and is perhaps the biggest reason Michigan has had so much success recruiting there over the last couple of cycles. The veteran Michigan defensive coordinator recruited Guy extremely hard after offering in February and had several video chats with him during this dead period. A lot of the calls centered around scheme fit. "I've talked to Coach Brown about it, and they see me as a guy that can move all around," Guy said. "He likes that I'm big and athletic. I can rush the passer and come off the edge, but I can also play the five-technique. I might play the three-technique a little bit, too. I can really move all over." A high academic kid with a ton of potential on the field, Guy loved the blend of elite academics and football offered in Ann Arbor. Simply put, Michigan felt like a home away from home. "Michigan has a great program," Guy said. "They have great academ- ics. I feel like I have a great relation- ship with the coaching staff. They have been doing a lot of recruiting in New England, and they realize that we have really good players here." Guy, who was once committed to Boston College, picked Michigan over offers from BC, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Connecticut and Virginia. Guy recorded 30 tackles and seven stops for loss as a junior at Mansfield. He also started at offensive tackle. Right now, Guy is an upside pros- pect, but his potential is limitless, according to Mansfield head coach Mike Redding. "He didn't put on a helmet and shoulder pads until his freshman year, so he really only has three seasons under his belt," Redding said. "We've seen pretty exponential growth these three seasons — and that's been with him splitting offense and defense, and learning two positions. Once he gets to college and focuses on one side of the ball and gets the coaching at Mich- igan, his upside is tremendous. "He's just going to get better and stronger. He's going to get better at technique. He's a heck of a high school player right now, but his best days are ahead of him." R i v a l s . c o m r a n k s t h e 6 - 4 , 240-pound Guy as the No. 8 prospect in Massachusetts. — EJ Holland Michigan Dips Back Into New England For Upside Defensive Lineman TJ Guy FILM EVALUATION Strengths: TJ Guy is a bit of a project take at this time, but he has the chance to really blossom at Michigan. This is a prospect that could very much exceed his rank- ing depending on development. He has great size and a frame to add weight and be an athletic three- technique in the interior of the de- fensive line. He is a lower-level bas- ketball recruit as well, which speaks to his raw athleticism. Weaknesses: Guy has only been playing football for three years, so he is extremely raw from a technical standpoint. He will need at least a few years of coaching and develop- ment before he can make an im- pact. He doesn't know how to use his hands to his advantage yet and can work on his get-off when the ball is snapped. Basic fundamentals still need to be perfected. Michigan Player Comparison: Guy could develop into a player sim- ilar to current defensive tackle Don- ovan Jeter, though he's not as highly ranked coming out of high school. Jeter was listed at 6-5, 250 pounds as a prep prospect and added sig- nificant weight before sliding inside. Guy will need to do the same while maintaining athleticism. — EJ Holland Mansfield (Mass.) High head coach Mike Redding "He's a heck of a high school player right now, but his best days are ahead of him." Guy has only played three years of high school football, but is a versatile prospect that can play all over the defensive line. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM